Educational device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. PARIS EDUQATIONAL DEVICE Filed'uarch 1. 1923 June Z, 1925.

1,539,909 J. PARIS -EDUGATIONAL DEVICE Filed March l. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,June 2, 1925.

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Patented June Z, 192,5

UNITED STATES JOS PARIS, O'F MANILA, PHILIIPINE ISLANDS.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

Application :filed March 1, 1923. Serial No. 622,131.

'To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Jos IAnls, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manila, Philippine Islands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Educational Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to iniprovements in educational devices.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an educational device, in the nature of a puzzle, embodying a base member having certain characters fixed thereon, and a plurality of playing members for association in a determined relation upon the base member, whereby a correct solution or result may be obtained, without liability of error.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved educational device, which may be used in connection lwith the solving of problems relating to many fields of human endeavor, study, and the like, such as art, history, spelling, geography, natural history, physics, botany, mathematics, and the like.

A further object, of this invention is the provision of an educational device which l embodies a base member having certain lo spaces therein and matter illustrative of a problem to be solved, and also embodying playing ,members for cooperation in the spaces of the base member', in a determined relation, for presenting a solution of the problem lto which the illustrative matter on the base refers.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In. the accompanying drawings, forming a part of. this specification, and wherein similar referencey characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a. plan view of setsV of playing members which may be embodied in the educational device. p

Figs. 2, 3 and t are examples of the relation which the improved details of the educational device bear to each other, more particularly showing the correct positioning of certain playing members on a base.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken longitudinally of the details illustrated in. Figure 4, on the line 5-5 of said ligure,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a base member embodied as a part of the educational device.

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe basev member illustrated in Figure 6, showing the inaccurate positioningr of playing members thereon, and the manner in which such inaccuracy is apparent.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which a set of playing members are relatively marked.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letters A, B, C and D designate base members representative of different solutions, by way of example, adapted to Vreceive the playing members of a set E. A second set of playing members F` may likewise be provided in connection with the solving of various problems.

Referring to the base members A, B, C and D, the structural features thereof are identical, and it is preferred that the same be of some durable material, such as card board, wood, metal, Celluloid, or the like,

lpreferably flat and rectangular in plan view, providing upon one end of the upper surface thereof a space within which an illustration is provided, referable to some matter to be spelled or solved, and likewise having therein explanatory matter 16 pertinent to the illustration inthe space 15. Thus, the base member A has a house in the space 15, and explanatory matter 16 therein pertinent to the house, and as a guide in the spellingof av word. The remaining upper surface of the playing member A is subdivided into square spaces 18 of equal dimension, ywhich are provided by scribing the horizontal lines 19 longitudinally of the base A, on the upper surface thereof, and parallel with, and just inwardly lof thelongitudinal marginal edges 20. Vertical lines 21 subdivide the base member A intermediate the parallel lines 19 into the proper squares 18. In each square a delineation 22 is provided, preferably of ink or some wearing substance orA material which lies flush with the surface of the space 18. These delineations 22 are preferably black, or of some very contrasting color with the remainder of the spaces 1 8.

The base member B has` an illustration therein pertinent te Vegetation, While `the coV Y tional device, sets of playing illustration of the base members C and D are respectively historical and geographical in significance.

In connection With each complete` educa-V i membersv E and F are provided. The set L preferably comprises a plurality of the playing blocks 25, each of which contain a different letter 26 of they alphabet. Theseplaying membersV 25 are of the same size, and preferably of some. durable material;v preferably flat andsqtlare in plan. The upper surfaces oi' lthe same, of course, are the only surfaceswhich containfthe alphabetical characters or letters 26. A's an aid in the correct solution of a problem to',` be solved or a Word to be spelled, the blocks: or playingmembers 25 are apertured or recessed, in dissimilar' manner, to cooperate with the delineations 22, as will be hereinafter more fully described. To this end, all of the letters of thefalphabehwith theexceptionof letters H-I-NeO-JSX and Z areprovided with the square apertures28 transversely therethrough, While the latter specifically mentioned letters:V are provided with recesses, 29, off polygonaliormation, extending inwardly from alovver or side marginaledgeof the same. The reason for providing` the apertures and recesses in the letters' iii-such manner, is. evident from the diagrammatic illustration in Figure 8, which diagramniatically representsthe manner in which. the set of blocks E` are relatively apertured and recessed in the most eiiicient "mannen-so asto eliminate the liability of confusing thev blocks during the playing thereo, andas will be'more apparent duringa description of the cooperation of the playingl membersv on the base.

Theset' ofplayingmembersF are of analogous formation with the playing members 25,4 and preferably have numerals 31 thereon; tenof auchy playing members being proy vided, asis illustrated in the drawings` In contradistinction to the square. apertures 28 of the playing members 25,l the playing members of the set F are provided with circular lapertures 32, to readily distinguish thesame. i

The playing' of the improved educational device, to produce aA result, either spelling; a Word, or solving a problem is at once apparent. For spelling, the pupil or person `reading the, descriptive matter 16 on a base member B and observing the illustration thereon will at once conclude that the word Mushroom is the Word to be s elled. The pupil or person, ofcourse, spe ls: the Word and to determine the correctnessV thereo` the playing members 25,- or rather the correct playin members 25 of .the set E are arranging on the playing member B, so that each playing member 25 is disposed exactly kWithin a. s ace 18 bounded by the lines 19 and 21. f the aperture or recess aligns with the delineations 22 in the space 18, the playingmember positioned in such space is correct, and the delineation 22 will be visi- 'b-le, as is indicated in Fi res 2, 3 and 4. In. this man nerthe word 1s spelled and the correct-ness thereof ascertained byA means of the improved educational device.

It is to be noted that in the case of the letters H, I, N, 0,. S, X and Z, the same may be read either in true upright position, or an inverted posi-tion.` To obviate, liability oferror, the diagrammatic' View ofFigure 8 showstlie recesses 29 providediin they playing members. bearing these particular' letters,A` and in such relation to the relative positioning .of apertures of the remaining blocks, that when these particular blocks are'` inverted,` their recesses will not tall on any delineations provided in any base member provided in connection with the set of letters E. In other words, each block or playing member is apertured o-r recessed according to the proportionate position occupied by the space inFigure 8, which bears the same letter as the block- Itis thus obvious from' Figure 8, that the apertures28 of theplaying members 25 Will in no Wise ever be mistakenly-positioned on a delineation-reservedfor a recess 29 of the playing membersv 25, either in the true orv inverted position of those playing members having recesses 29.

Y As is illustratedinFigure 7 certain playing members 25 have been shown in improper inverted positions, it being obvious that an error has been made by reason of the fact that the recesses 29 do not expose the delineations. 22 inthe space uponjwhich they are positioned. I

From the foregoing description vof this invention it is obvious that an educationalV device has been provided, which is very simple 1n. construction,- involving parts which may be economically manufactured. Y

The novel cooperation of the recesses or apertures in the playing members, intlieiry aligning relation with. the delineatious 22, facllltates the assemblage of the playing members upon a base member. In view of the flush relation ofthe .delineations 22 in` their spaces 18, thereare no projecting parts `on either the base member or playing members, which will become mutilated or broken, as 1s the case 1n many educational devices partaklng of the nature of this invention.

rangement of parts, and application of the princi le of this invention to various fields of en eavor may be made to theV forms of the invention herein shown and described,"

i Various changes in the shape, size, ar Y -formation providing an illustration With eX- planatory matter' on the upper surface thereof adjacent one end of the same, said base member on said upper surface from said illustration to the opposite end thereof having longitudinal lines scribed thereon in parallel relation inwardly of the longitudinal edges of said base member and vertical lines intermediate. said longitudinal lines at right angles tothe latter subdividing said base member into a plurality of squares or' equal dimension, each of said. squares having a contrasting delineation therein, and marked blocks for fitting upon said squares having eutouts for exposing said delineations when the blocks are placed upon the proper squares.

2. A device of the class described comprising a set et playing members having dil'lierent characteristics thereon and provided with dissimilarly positioned eutouts formed therein, certain of said members having characters thereon readable when the members are in inverted relation, such members having the cutouts leading from the marginal edges and dissimilarly positioned With respect to the cutouts of the remaining members either when in true or inverted position.

3. An educational device comprising a base provided with spaces thereon having delineations substantially flush with the surlace of each ont said spaces, and playing members having characters thereon adapted to be arranged in a determined relation in the spaces on said base and having openings therein 'for exposing said delineations when said playing members are positioned in correct relation upon the base.

il. An educational device comprising a base iii'oificled with spaces thereon having delineations substantially flush With the surtace of each of said spaces, and playing .members having characters thereon adapted to be arranged in a determined relation in the spaces on said base and having openings therein for exposing said delineations when said playing members are positioned in correct relation upon the base, the openings of playing members Which have unlike characters thereon being dissimilarly positioned.

5. An educational device comprising a" base providing a plurality of spaces thereon of substantially the same size, each of said spaces having a contrasting delineation therein flush with the surface of said space, and a set of playing blocks bearing characters thereon certain of said blocks being provided with apertures theretl'irough, the rcmaining playing blocks having characters readable when inverted, such playing blocks having recesses leading from their marginal edges and dissimilarly positioned with respect to the openings of the remaining blocks either' when in their true or inverted positions.

6. An educational device comprising a base member provided With an illustration thereon and explanatory matter referable to said illustration, said base having a plurality of spaces a ranged longitudinally adjacent said illustration, each of said spaces having a contrasting delineation therein, and playing members having characters thereon, each of said members having au opening therein, whereby said playing members may be disposed in the spaces on said base so that the openings of certain of said playing members Will expose the delineations in said spaces to effect an arrangement of said playing members Which will produce a result reterabl :to said illustration.

Josie Panis. 

